Eric

Reid

Reid was released by the Panthers last month but hasn’t been linked to any teams. He has ties to Houston, where his brother Justin has been a starter the past two seasons. Reid struggled in coverage last year but had a career-high 130 tackles. He should resurface on a one-year deal.

The coaching staff and ownership enjoyed his fit into their culture, but his coverage skills weren’t up to par last season as evidenced by PFF’s No. 69 ranking out of 71 qualifiers. Reid will test the free agent market, and we’ll be keeping an eye on the Redskins given his ties to coach Ron Rivera. Only 29, Reid could bounce back in a new spot and will at worst be a tackling machine for the position. He had a career-high 130 tackles last season.

Reid is a late addition to the injury report. The Panthers are concerned enough with his health to give him a questionable tag. Reid’s illness is unlikely to keep him out, but his status won’t be known until gametime.

Reid’s absence would be good news for Dwayne Haskins and company. TE Jeremy Sprinkle is playing a near every-down role, but he doesn’t have more than two catches in a game this season. He’s well off the fantasy radar.

Reid will play through his ankle injury for the second straight week. Shaq Thompson (ankle) is also active. The Panthers inactives are QB Cam Newton, CB Donte Jackson, OG Trai Turner, OT Greg Little, OT Caleb Benenoch, TE Chris Manhertz, and DE Bryan Cox Jr.

LB Brian Burns (wrist) and DT Gerald McCoy (knee) are also on track for Sunday. Reid had been looking iffy for Week 5 but improved his playing prospects by returning to a limited practice Friday. He’s been a liability this year, holding PFF’s fourth-worst coverage grade among 80 qualifiers at safety.

Reid got in a limited practice Friday but looks on the wrong side of questionable. Rashaan Gaulden would pick up Reid’s snaps if he sits.

Details are scarce as both sides are bound to a confidentiality agreement, though it’s likely that Kaepernick and Reid received significant financial compensation. “We continuously supported Colin and Eric from the start of their protests, participated with their lawyers throughout their legal proceedings and were prepared to participate in the upcoming trial in pursuit of both truth and justice for what we believe the NFL and its clubs did to them,” the NFL Players Association said in a statement Friday. “We are glad that Eric has earned a job and a new contract, and we continue to hope that Colin gets his opportunity as well.” Reid has found a new home in Carolina while Kaepernick has yet to resurface in the wake of his widely-publicized anthem protests. Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report has heard “speculation” Kaepernick will net between $60-80 million from the settlement.

It does include a $1 million injury guarantee for 2020 in case Reid gets hurt in 2019. All in all, it’s not the worst deal for a 28-year-old safety who remained unsigned until last September. Reid will likely make it to at least year two of his new contract.

Obviously blackballed last offseason, Reid lingered on the open market until September. He almost immediately became an every-down player for the Panthers upon making his Carolina debut in Week 5, continuing his solid, if unspectacular, play from his 49ers days. Still only 27, Reid is a big hitter with positional versatility. He should remain a starter for several more seasons.